Benjamin Franklin summed it up perfectly: “There are no gains without pains.”

Walking through our home today, I felt the pain leaving me. I’ve joked with many folks about what this renovation has been like. It’s felt like a bad pregnancy – painful and uncomfortable. But now that we see that sweet, beautiful baby – it’s all been worth it. Now our feelings are that of excitement and joy.

We’re probably about 95% done. This next week is moving, punch, lots of the last steps of contractors. It’s going to be a zoo. But it will be well worth it.

I was able to snap photos of the home today – almost complete with the last coat of poly on the floors. Here is the living room.

The dining room towards living room

The dining room towards music room and living room

Dining Room towards kitchen

Music room

Kitchen

Powder Room

Pantry

Kitchen

Back porch

Wine Cellar

Looking down from second floor.

Second floor landing

Hall Bath

Guest room

Addison’s room

My office

Entry into master suite

Master bedroom

Master bath

Master bedroom

My closet (!!!)

I really love how it is hard to tell where the old house ended and the new has begun. We are beyond thrilled that our vision of a seamless renovation/addition has been executed. Great job Ryan!

Second floor landing to third floor stairwell

Third floor stairwell. I love how this is new – yet looks like it’s been here forever.

Third floor bonus room

Third floor bedroom (Jonathan’s office)

Here’s third floor bath. Tomorrow starts the move back in. Tomorrow night will be the first night that we fall asleep under this roof – this year. I will keep Benjamin Franklin and his quote in mind while we are moving. But I think that the pleasure of our new and improved home will supercede the pain of moving.

13 Comments

wow! I love all the pics. The project turned out so well. I actually squealed when I saw your closet! It’s all so beautiful. Will be fun bringing back in your things, your family, and back to being ” home”. congratulations!

In 1979, Mark McEvers and I spent two years renovating a dilapidated house in the middle of Atlanta. It had a condemnation notice on the wall and you could see light coming through the roof. It was renovated as a upstairs/downstairs duplex, then rented for several years.

In 1996-7 my wife Judy and I did another total renovation, added a back porch. Did a new kitchen. Added central air & heat. Rebuilt all the chimneys. Turned it into a beautiful single family home. Lived and loved in it for several years.

Now it has the ultimate renovation. I couldn’t be prouder and happier than to see the fabulous additions and decorating decisions you’ve made. I always wanted to turn that big attic into something special. Now you’ve done it. A wine cellar? Wow!

Congratulations. From personal experience, the pain will be truly worth it.

Jim-
So glad you found us. Jonathan and I talk about you often and how you saved this beautiful home we love so much. Thank you for seeing the beauty and potential. If you ever make it this way – we would love to show you around. Thank you – thank you – thank you!

Jennifer! Jaw-dropping finish my friend. I love everything about it. The stained glass, the green brick on the fireplace, your closet (are you serious?), the landings are stunning and I especially love your back porch. So so so happy for you and Jonathan.

in 1979 Mark McEvers and I took on a dilapidated house in the middle of Downtown Atlanta. It had a condemnation notice on the door and you could see light coming through the roof. We stripped every surface, re-wired, re-plumbed and re-did nearly everything. We spent almost a month in the middle of winter stripping a million coats of old paint from the stair bannister (who knows how much lead we absorbed! We renovated it into an upstairs/downstairs duplex and rented it out for several years.

In 1996-7 my wife Judy and I did another complete renovation. Turned it back into a single family home. New kitchen, back porch, central air, rebuilt all of the chimneys. We lived and loved in it for several more years.

Now it has had the renovation of a lifetime. I couldn’t be prouder and happier with the fabulous job you’ve done with the renovation, additions, and decorating choices. I always thought it would be great to do something with that big attic. A wine cellar? Wow! Our baby has truly grown up.